Spain and the United Nations

Spain and multilateralism

Spain is firmly committed to the promotion of strong and legitimate multilateral institutions that can enable progress towards a peaceful world, in which the basic rights of the human being are protected and a development compatible with social cohesion and the conservation of the environment are fostered

The United Nations is the body with the greatest global legitimacy to achieve this goal. Spain advocates and defends the central role of the Organisation in the defence of a rules-based international order, the rule of law and an inclusive and strengthened multilateralism.

What is the United Nations (UN)? 

The purpose of the United Nations (UN), founded in 1945 after the Second World War, is the maintenance of international peace and security, respect and defence of human rights and the achievement of sustainable development. With 193 Member States, the Organisation is a key pillar in the management of contemporary global challenges from climate change to the governance of artificial intelligence. Spain joined the Organisation in 1955.​

The United Nations carries out its work through various bodies in which Member States participate. The main ones are:

• The General Assembly, the world's highest deliberative forum, where all member states meet to discuss and coordinate global policies.
• The Security Council responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, with the power to recommend measures for the settlement of disputes and to authorise the use of force.
• The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which promotes economic and social cooperation in areas such as sustainable development and human rights.
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the institutional guardian of the United Nations system, whose functions include settling disputes between states and giving advisory opinions on the application of international law.

The UN has a Secretary-General, currently the Portuguese António Guterres, to whom the Secretariat reports, and various agencies, funds and programmes that deal with specific aspects of international cooperation, such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN Women.

Spain's participation in the Security Council 

Spain has been an elected member of the Security Council five times, most recently in 2015-2016. During this mandate, Spain promoted:

• The adoption among others of Resolution 2242, which renewed the Women, Peace and Security agenda on promoting women's participation in peace processes and combating sexual violence in armed conflict.
• Resolution 2250, the first to recognise the role of young people in conflict prevention and resolution.
• Resolution 2286 on access to and protection of health care in armed conflicts, examples of Spain's commitment to peace and security at the global level.
  

Spain presents its candidacy to be an elected member of the Security Council for 2031-2032

Maintenance of international peace and security. Participation in Peace Missions 

Conflict prevention and mediation for conflict resolution are priorities for Spanish foreign action, as set out in the Spanish Strategy for Humanitarian Diplomacy 2023-26.

Spain is one of the largest contributors to united Nations peacekeeping operations and missions​. Since 1989, Spain has contributed more than 137,000 men and women from the Armed Forces and State Security Forces to more than fifty peace operations in countries such as Mozambique, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan and Haiti. Currently, the largest contingent of Spanish blue helmets, with almost 700 troops, is the one assigned to the UN Mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Spain in the defence of human rights

The defence and promotion of human rights in a cross-cutting manner is an integral part of our work at the UN. Spain has been chosen as a Member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period. The Council, based in Geneva, has as the primary objective of protecting and promoting human rights at the global level, an indispensable condition for peace, security and sustainable development. The choice of Spain is a reflection of the values of Spanish society, such as peace, democracy and human rights​.

Spain's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 

Spain is firmly committed to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in areas related to the fight against poverty, gender equality, climate change and development cooperation.

Through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Spain contributes to humanitarian and development projects in various parts of the world, in line with the 2030 Agenda.

In line with this commitment, Spain will host the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, a key meeting to address the financing gap and mobilise the necessary resources to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. It will also be an important milestone ​in the reform of the international development financing architecture. 

A pact for the future

Throughout its more than 75-year history, the United Nations has proven to be a crucial instrument in addressing the world's most pressing challenges and remains a relevant actor for the well-being of humanity in the 21st century. The Future adopted in September 2024, is an important step towards deepening international cooperation and building a more just and sustainable future for current and future generations. It includes two annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, which address digital challenges, such as governance in the field of AI, and take into account the interests of young people in decision-making processes, respectively.

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